Equalized hearing aid system

ABSTRACT

An equalized hearing aid system includes a microphone, a first equalizer, a first mixer, and a first speaker coupled in series forming a first signal path with a second mixer coupled to the first equalizer within the first signal path. The microphone, a second equalizer, a third mixer, and a second speaker are coupled in series forming a second signal path with a fourth mixer coupled to the second equalizer within the second signal path. A control interface may be coupled to at least one of the first equalizer and the second equalizer. A Bluetooth module may be coupled to at least one of the first equalizer and the second equalizer. A third equalizer may be coupled to input signal into the first signal path and a fourth equalizer may be coupled to input signal into the second signal path.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This application relates to a hearing aid system, and more particularlyto a hearing aid system comprising a user configurable equalizer.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A hearing aid is defined and regulated by the U.S. Food and DrugAdministration (FDA) and is an electroacoustic device which is designedto amplify sound for the wearer, usually with the aim of making speechmore intelligible, and to correct impaired hearing as measured byaudiometry.

Most forms of correctable hearing loss exhibit different characteristicsaccording to frequency of the sound. For example, one user may finddifficulty in hearing lower frequencies while another user's difficultymay reside in higher frequencies. Many hearing aids address this problemusing frequency compression and/or by shifting inputted frequencies to ahigher or lower frequency where they may be more audible to the user ofthe hearing aid without requiring excessive amplification.Unfortunately, shifting of frequencies often results in an unnaturalsound quality.

Another difficulty in the use of such hearing aids is that suchapproaches are frequently fixed at manufacture and are not readilyadjustable depending upon local environmental variables or userpreferences in different situations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An equalized hearing aid system is proposed that gives the user greatflexibility to easily control amplitudes of different audio frequencybands whether from a single source or simultaneously from multiplesources, and may include one speaker or a plurality of speakersproviding multiple audio channels.

The equalized hearing aid system comprises a microphone, a firstvariable gain amplifier, a first equalizer, a first mixer, and a firstspeaker coupled in series forming a first signal path, and a secondmixer coupled to the first equalizer within the first signal path. Theequalized hearing aid system may further include a Bluetooth modulecoupled to the first equalizer, and/or a control interface coupled tothe first equalizer for controlling the first equalizer. The equalizedhearing aid system is configured such that the Bluetooth module maytransmit control signals received from another Bluetooth enabled deviceto the first equalizer for controlling the equalizer, to transmit audiosignals received from the microphone to another Bluetooth enableddevice, and/or transmit audio signals received from another Bluetoothenabled device to the second mixer.

The equalized hearing aid system may further comprise the microphone, asecond variable gain amplifier, a second equalizer, a third mixer, and asecond speaker coupled in series forming a second signal path with afourth mixer coupled to the second equalizer within the second signalpath. A third equalizer may be coupled to input signal into the firstsignal path and a fourth equalizer may be coupled to input signal intothe second signal path.

A preferred equalized hearing aid system may comprise a microphone, afirst variable gain amplifier, a first equalizer, a first mixer, and afirst speaker coupled in series forming a first audio channel with asecond mixer coupled to the first equalizer within the first signalpath, the microphone, a second equalizer, a third mixer, and a secondspeaker coupled in series forming a second audio channel with a fourthmixer coupled to the second equalizer within the second audio channel, acontrol interface coupled to the first equalizer for controlling thefirst equalizer and to the second equalizer for controlling the secondequalizer, and a Bluetooth module coupled to the first and secondequalizers, wherein the Bluetooth module is configured to transmit audiosignals received from another Bluetooth enabled device to the first andsecond equalizers and/or control signals received from the Bluetoothenabled device to the first and/or second equalizers for controlling thefirst and/or second equalizer respectively. An output of the Bluetoothmodule is preferably coupled to the second mixer and to the fourthmixer. A third equalizer may be coupled to input signal into the firstsignal path and a fourth equalizer may be coupled to input signal intothe second signal path.

An equalized hearing aid system may also comprise a microphone, a firstvariable gain amplifier, a first equalizer, a first mixer, and a firstspeaker coupled in series forming a first signal path, a second mixercoupled to the equalizer within the first signal path. The microphone, asecond variable gain amplifier, a second equalizer, a third mixer, and asecond speaker coupled in series forming a second signal path with afourth mixer coupled to the second equalizer within the second signalpath. A control interface may be coupled to the first equalizer forcontrolling the first equalizer and to the second equalizer forcontrolling the second equalizer. A Bluetooth module may be coupled tothe first equalizer and to the second equalizer with the Bluetoothmodule configured to transmit audio signals received from anotherBluetooth enabled device to at least one of the first and second signalpaths and/or to transmit control signals received from the anotherBluetooth enabled device to at least one of the first equalizer forcontrolling the first equalizer and to the second equalizer forcontrolling the second equalizer. A third equalizer may be coupled toinput signal into the second mixer and a fourth equalizer may be coupledto input signal into the fourth mixer. The Bluetooth module may befurther configured to transmit control signals received from anotherBluetooth enabled device to at least one of the third equalizer forcontrolling the third equalizer and to the fourth equalizer forcontrolling the fourth equalizer.

These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt becomeobvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiment that isillustrated in the various figures and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an equalized hearing aid.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of an equalized hearing aid havingpreferred enhancements to the equalized hearing aid of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of an equalized hearing aid havingpreferred enhancements to the equalized hearing aid of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of an equalized hearing aid havingpreferred enhancements to the equalized hearing aid of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of an equalized hearing aid havingpreferred enhancements to the equalized hearing aid of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of an equalized hearing aid havingpreferred enhancements to the equalized hearing aid of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of an equalized hearing aid havingpreferred enhancements to the equalized hearing aid of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of an equalized hearing aid havingpreferred enhancements to the equalized hearing aid of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of an equalized hearing aid thatillustrates variations of the equalized hearing aids shown in FIG. 1,FIG. 3, FIG. 5, and FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram of an equalized hearing aid thatillustrates variations of the equalized hearing aids shown in FIG. 2,FIG. 4, FIG. 6, and FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An equalizer as used herein is a circuit or equipment used to strengthenor weaken the energy of specific frequency bands by adjusting amplitudeof audio signals at particular frequencies. Equalization may be used toeliminate unwanted sounds, make certain sounds more prominent, enhanceparticular aspects of a tone, combat feedback, adjust the timbre ofindividual sounds, and to fit individual sounds within or removeindividual sounds from the overall frequency spectrum of the mix.

Bluetooth as used herein is a wireless technology standard forexchanging data over short distances using short-wavelength UHF radiowaves in the industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) band from 2.4 to2.485 GHz. Bluetooth is managed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group(SIG), which oversees development of the specification. Herein, the termBluetooth refers to wireless technology consistent with the Bluetoothspecification. Bluetooth® Core Specification 4.2 is included herein byreference.

Throughout this application, the term “preferably” means desired but isoptional and not required according to design considerations. The term“coupled” means having a direct or an indirect electrical path, again,according to design considerations. Although even a wire inherentlychanges a signal within it, a direct electrical path between componentsA and B is intended to mean that no additional component is in theelectrical path between components A and B that is used to intentionallydelay, store, and/or alter the signal between components A and B.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an equalized hearing aid 100,i.e., a hearing aid that comprises an equalizer. Equalized hearing aid100 comprises a microphone 10, a first variable gain amplifier (VGA) 20,a first equalizer 30, a first mixer 72 optionally connected to a firstauxiliary input AUX_IN_1, and a first speaker 50 coupled in series toform a signal path. The first mixer 72 is configured to optionallyreceive Bluetooth signal and/or signal from the first auxiliary inputAUX_IN_1 for output to the first speaker 50 and/or combine the receivedsignal with signal received from the first equalizer 30 to output thecombined signal to the first speaker 50. The first mixer 72 is alsoconfigured to optionally bypass any received Bluetooth signal and/orsignal from the first auxiliary input AUX_IN_1 and output signalreceived from the first equalizer 30 to the first speaker 50 accordingto user preference. The first equalizer 30 preferably includes a drivermodule for driving electrically coupled speakers, however the drivermodule may be located in the first mixer 72, in the first speaker 50, oranother suitable location according to design considerations.

To offer a means of control of the first equalizer 30, equalized hearingaid 100 also preferably includes a control interface 60 coupled ordetachably coupled to the first equalizer 30. The control interface 60preferably can control the first equalizer 30 parameters and soundvolume through the first equalizer 30. The control interface 60 mayinclude knobs, dials, buttons, or other control hardware and/or softwareto control the first equalizer 30 to adjust amplitude of the audiosignals at particular frequencies via the first equalizer 30. Thecontrol interface 60 preferably can be any user-defined interface, suchas an Inter-Integrated Circuit (I²C) interface, a Universal AsynchronousReceiver/Transmitter (UART) interface, a Serial Peripheral Interface(SPI), or any other suitable interface. The control interface 60preferably further includes a connector 61, such as an audio jack or aUniversal Serial Device (USB) port, so that at least a portion of thecontrol interface 60 may be decoupled from the first equalizer when notneeded. When the connector 61 is present and the user desires to adjustthe equalization levels, at least a portion of the control interface 60can be coupled to the first equalizer 30 via the connector 61 so thatthe appropriate command signals may be sent from the at least a portionof the control interface 60 to the first equalizer 30.

In FIG. 1, sound is received by the microphone 10, generating audiosignals that may be amplified by the first VGA 20, then sent to thefirst equalizer 30 for adjustment of amplitude of the audio signals atparticular frequencies according to settings selected by the user viathe control interface 60. After equalization, the audio signals may betransmitted to the first speaker 50 via the first mixer 72.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of an equalized hearing aid 150having preferred enhancements to the equalized hearing aid 100 ofFIG. 1. In FIG. 2, as in all figures, components having similarfunctionality share the same identification label number.

The equalized hearing aid 150 may include the microphone 10, the firstvariable gain amplifier 20, the first equalizer 30, the first mixer 72,and the first speaker 50 coupled in series to form the first signalpath, and the interface 60 of FIG. 1. In addition to what is shown inFIG. 1, the equalized hearing aid 150 also preferably includes themicrophone 10, a second variable gain amplifier 25, a second equalizer35, a second mixer 74 configured to receive input from a secondauxiliary input AUX_IN_2, and a second speaker 55 coupled in series toform a second signal path. The second equalizer 35 is also coupled tothe interface 60.

In FIG. 2, preferably, the second VGA 25 is functionally similar to theVGA 20, the second equalizer 35 is functionally similar to the firstequalizer 30, and the second mixer 74 is functionally similar to thefirst mixer 72. The two speakers 50, 55 preferably respectivelycorrespond to a left and a right audio channel. The left and right audiochannels may carry a same audio signal or different audio signalsaccording to design or user preferences. The interface 60 is alsopreferably configured to allow independent control of the parameters forthe two equalizers 30, 35 and independent control of respective audiovolumes of the two speakers 50, 55.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of an equalized hearing aid 200having preferred enhancements to the equalized hearing aid 100 of FIG.1.

The equalized hearing aid 200 may include the microphone 10, the firstvariable gain amplifier 20, the first equalizer 30, the first mixer 72,and the first speaker 50 coupled in series. The equalized hearing aid200 also preferably comprises the control interface 60 and alsopreferably includes the Bluetooth module 80 coupled to the firstequalizer and is configured to transmit control signals received fromanother Bluetooth enabled device 95 to the first equalizer 30 forcontrolling the first equalizer 30.

The Bluetooth module 80 may be further coupled to a second mixer 70 viaconnection line 205. The second mixer 70 is preferably coupled withinthe first signal path in series between the equalizer 30 and the firstmixer 72 and mixes audio signals received by the Bluetooth module 80with audio signals exiting the first equalizer 30. Thus, when theBluetooth module 80 is paired with a suitable Bluetooth enabled device95, for example a smartphone, a computer, or tablet, audio signalstransmitted by the Bluetooth enabled device 95 are received by theBluetooth module 80, transmitted from the Bluetooth module 80 to thesecond mixer 70. According to user preference, the audio signals fromthe Bluetooth module 80 and received by the second mixer 70 may becombined by the second mixer 70 with equalized audio signals originatingat the microphone 10 to produce a combined audio signal transmitted tothe first mixer 72. The second mixer 70 may be optionally configured bya user to ignore audio signals audio signals from the Bluetooth module80 and transmit equalized audio signals originating at the microphone 10to the first mixer 72 or alternatively configured by a user to ignoreequalized audio signals originating at the microphone 10 and transmitthe audio signals from the Bluetooth module 80 to the first mixer 72.

The first mixer 72 is also configured to optionally bypass any receivedBluetooth signal and/or signal from the first auxiliary input AUX_IN_1and output signal received from the first equalizer 30 to the firstspeaker 50 according to user preference or to optionally bypass signalreceived from the first equalizer 30 and output any received Bluetoothsignal and/or signal from the first auxiliary input AUX_IN_1 to thefirst speaker 50. The equalized hearing aid 200 preferably also includesa connection line 201 between the microphone 10 and the Bluetooth module80 so that audio signals received by the microphone 10 may betransmitted from the Bluetooth module 80 to the Bluetooth enabled device95 when desired.

It is again noted that the first mixer 72 is configured to also receivean auxiliary signal and/or an audio Bluetooth signal and any one orcombination of any of the signals received by the first mixer 72 may beoutput to the first speaker 50 according to design considerations.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of an equalized hearing aid 250having preferred enhancements to the equalized hearing aids 150 and 200.The equalized hearing aid 250 may include the microphone 10, the firstVGA 20, the first equalizer 30, the second mixer 70, the first mixer 72,the first speaker 50, the interface 60, the second VGA 25, the secondequalizer 35, the third mixer 74, the fourth mixer 75, and the secondspeaker 55 coupled as shown in FIG. 4. The Bluetooth module 80 iscoupled to the microphone 10 via connection line 201 so that audiosignals from the microphone 10 can be transmitted to the Bluetoothenabled device 95 when desired. The equalized hearing aid 250 preferablyalso includes a connection line 205 coupling the mixers 70 and 75 toeach other and to the Bluetooth module 80. The Bluetooth module 80 isfurther configured to transmit control signals received from anotherBluetooth enabled device 95 to at least one of the first equalizer 30for controlling the first equalizer 30 and the second equalizer 35 forcontrolling the second equalizer 35.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of an equalized hearing aid 300having preferred enhancements to the equalized hearing aids 100, 150,200, and 250.

The equalized hearing aid 300 may include the microphone 10, the firstVGA 20, the first equalizer 30, the second mixer 70, the first mixer 72,and the first speaker 50 coupled in series, and also preferably includesthe control interface 60, and the Bluetooth module 80 along withconnection line 201 between the Bluetooth module 80 and the output ofthe microphone 10, connection line 210 between the Bluetooth module 80and the first equalizer 30, and connection line 205 between theBluetooth module 80 and the second mixer 70.

Thus, when the Bluetooth module 80 is paired with the suitable Bluetoothenabled device 95, audio signals transmitted by the Bluetooth enableddevice 95 are received by the Bluetooth module 80, transmitted from theBluetooth module 80 to the second mixer 70, and combined by the secondmixer 70 with equalized audio signals originating at the microphone 10to produce a combined audio signal transmitted to the first mixer 72. Itis again noted that the first mixer 72 is configured to also receive anauxiliary signal and/or an audio Bluetooth signal and any one orcombination of any of the signals received by the first mixer 72 may beoutput to the first speaker 50 according to design considerations. TheBluetooth module 80 is further configured to transmit control signalsreceived from another Bluetooth enabled device 95 to the first equalizer30 for controlling the first equalizer 30 via connection line 210.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of an equalized hearing aid 350having preferred enhancements to the equalized hearing aids 100, 150,200, 250, and/or 300. The equalized hearing aid 350 may include themicrophone 10, the first VGA 20, the first equalizer 30, the secondmixer 70, the first mixer 72, and the first speaker 50 coupled inseries. The equalized hearing aid 350 also preferably comprises themicrophone 10, the second VGA 25, the second equalizer 35, the fourthmixer 75, the third mixer 74, and the second speaker 55 coupled inseries, and the control interface 60 and the Bluetooth module 80.

Also preferably included are the connection line 201 coupling the outputof the microphone 10 with the Bluetooth module 80 and the second VGA 25,connection line 210 coupling the Bluetooth module 80 with the firstequalizer 30, connection line 204 coupling the Bluetooth module 80 withthe second equalizer 35, connection line 202 coupling the interface 60with the first equalizer 30, connection line 207 coupling the interface60 with the second equalizer 35, and connection line 205 coupling thesecond mixer 70 with the fourth mixer 75. Because adjustment of theequalization levels of the audio signals received by the equalizers 30and 35 can be made using the Bluetooth enabled device 95, the controlinterface 60 may or may not be included in the equalized hearing aid 350according to design considerations.

FIG. 7 is a function block diagram of an equalized hearing aid 400 thatillustrates variations of the equalized hearing aids 100, 150, 200, 250,300, and 350. The equalized hearing aid 400 may include the microphone10, the first VGA 20, the first equalizer 30, the second mixer 70, thefirst mixer 72, and the first speaker 50 coupled in series, and also maycomprise the control interface 60, the Bluetooth module 80, and thesecond equalizer 35. Also preferably included are the connection line201 coupling the output of the microphone 10 with the Bluetooth module80, connection line 210 coupling the Bluetooth module 80 with the firstequalizer 30, connection line 215 coupling the Bluetooth module 80 withthe second equalizer 35, connection line 202 coupling the interface 60with the first equalizer 30, connection line 206 coupling the interface60 with the second equalizer 35, and connection line 220 coupling thesecond equalizer 35 to the second mixer 70.

The equalized hearing aid 400 offers the ability to use the interface 60to adjust parameters controlling the equalizers 30, 35, while parameterscontrolling the equalizers 30, 35 can also be set using the Bluetoothenabled device 95 via the Bluetooth module 80. Because the differentaudio signal sources (microphone 10 and Bluetooth enabled device 95) mayhave different audio characteristics, this enables a user to easilyadjust the mixed audio signal exiting the second mixer 70 according tothe user's desire.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of an equalized hearing aid 450having preferred enhancements to the equalized hearing aids 100, 150,200, 250, 300, 350, and/or 400. The equalized hearing aid 450 mayinclude the microphone 10, the first VGA 20, the first equalizer 30, thesecond mixer 70, the first mixer 72, and the first speaker 50 coupled inseries to form the first signal path. The equalized hearing aid 450 alsopreferably comprises the microphone 10, the second VGA 25, the secondequalizer 35, the fourth mixer 75, the third mixer 74, and the secondspeaker 55 coupled in series forming the second signal path, and thecontrol interface 60 and the Bluetooth module 80. New enhancementspreferably included in the equalized hearing aid 450 include a thirdequalizer 90 and a fourth equalizer 95.

Also preferably included are the connection line 201 coupling the outputof the microphone 10 with the Bluetooth module 80 and the second VGA 25,connection line 215 coupling the Bluetooth module 80 with the thirdequalizer 90 and coupling the Bluetooth module 80 with the fourthequalizer 95, connection line 210 coupling the Bluetooth module 80 withthe first equalizer 30 and coupling the Bluetooth module 80 with thesecond equalizer 35, connection line 202 coupling the interface 60 withthe first equalizer 30, connection line 206 coupling the interface 60with the second equalizer 35, the third equalizer 90, and the fourthequalizer 95, connection line 208 coupling the fourth equalizer 95 withthe fourth mixer 75, and connection line 220 coupling the thirdequalizer 90 with the second mixer 70.

The structure of the equalized hearing aid 450 permits a user of theBluetooth enabled device 95 to set control parameters of at least one ofthe first equalizer 30, the second equalizer 35, the third equalizer 90,and the fourth equalizer 95, respectively. The interface 60 also permitsa user to set control parameters of at least one of the first equalizer30, the second equalizer 35, the third equalizer 90, and the fourthequalizer 95, respectively. The parameters for each of the fourequalizers 30, 35, 90, 95 may be the same or may differ according touser considerations. This arrangement allows the user to determine adesired and possibly separate balance between audio sources (microphone10, Bluetooth enabled device 95, auxiliary input AUX_IN_1, AUX_IN_2) foreach of the two channels respectively output by the two speakers 50 and55.

A particular advantage of the equalized hearing aids 150, 250, 350, and450 is the ability to individually control audio characteristics foreach of the left and right channels; something that is appreciated by auser where capabilities of one ear may differ from capabilities of theuser's other ear.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of an equalized hearing aid 500that is a possible variation of the equalized hearing aids 200, 300,and/or 400. A difference in the equalized hearing aid 500 is that thesecond mixer 70 is serially coupled between the microphone 10 and thefirst equalizer 30 instead of between the first equalizer 30 and thefirst mixer 72 according to design considerations.

Placement of the second mixer 70 between the microphone 10 and the firstequalizer 30 allows audio signals transmitted from the Bluetooth module80 to be mixed with audio signals originating from the microphone 10before being transmitted to the first equalizer 30.

FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram of an equalized hearing aid 550that is a possible variation of the equalized hearing aids 150, 250,and/or 350. A difference in the equalized hearing aid 550 is that thesecond mixer 70 is serially coupled between the microphone 10 and thefirst equalizer 30 and the fourth mixer 75 is serially coupled betweenthe microphone 10 and the second equalizer 35, again according to designconsiderations.

Placement of the mixers 70 and 75 between the microphone 10 and thefirst equalizer 30 and the second equalizer 35 respectively allows audiosignals originating from the microphone 10 to be mixed with audiosignals transmitted from the Bluetooth module 80 before entering thefirst equalizer 30 and/or the second equalizer 35. This arrangementprovides the ability to individually control audio characteristics foreach of the left and right channels when desired.

An equalized hearing aid is proposed that includes an equalizer that isadjustable via a control interface 60 and/or a Bluetooth enabled device95 depending upon local environmental variables or user preferences indifferent situations. The included Bluetooth module 80 additionallypermits sound acquired by the microphone 10 to be transmitted to theBluetooth enabled device 95 and/or sound or audio signals originatingfrom the Bluetooth enabled device and/or an auxiliary input to reproducesound with the speaker 50, or generate individual left and right audiochannels to possibly reproduce stereo sound with the speakers 50 and 55.The disclosed equalized hearing aids permit the user great flexibilityto control amplitudes of differing audio frequency bands whether from asingle source or simultaneously from multiple sources and is easily useradjustable depending upon local environmental variables or userpreferences in different situations through the use of the controlinterface 60 or the Bluetooth enabled device 95.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerousmodifications and alterations of the device and method may be made whileretaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the abovedisclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and boundsof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An equalized hearing aid system comprising: amicrophone, a first variable gain amplifier, a first equalizer, a firstmixer, and a first speaker coupled in series forming a first signalpath; a Bluetooth module configured to receive signals from anotherBluetooth enabled device or to transmit signals to the another Bluetoothenabled device; and a second mixer coupled in series between the firstequalizer and the first mixer, wherein the Bluetooth module is coupledto the second mixer to transmit audio signals received from the anotherBluetooth enabled device to the second mixer; wherein the first mixer isconfigured to optionally receive signal from the first equalizer orsignal from a first auxiliary input for output to the first speaker, orcombine the received signals to output the combined signal to the firstspeaker.
 2. The equalized hearing aid system of claim 1 furthercomprising a control interface coupled to the first equalizer forcontrolling the first equalizer.
 3. The equalized hearing aid system ofclaim 1 wherein the Bluetooth module is further coupled to an output ofthe microphone and is configured to transmit audio signals received fromthe microphone to the another Bluetooth enabled device.
 4. The equalizedhearing aid system of claim 1 wherein the Bluetooth module is coupled tothe first equalizer and is configured to transmit control signalsreceived from the another Bluetooth enabled device to the firstequalizer for controlling the first equalizer.
 5. The equalized hearingaid system of claim 4 further comprising a second equalizer coupled tothe second mixer, wherein the Bluetooth module is coupled to the secondequalizer and is configured to transmit audio signals received from theanother Bluetooth enabled device.
 6. An equalized hearing aid systemcomprising: a microphone, a first variable gain amplifier, a firstequalizer, a first mixer, and a first speaker coupled in series forminga first signal path, wherein the first mixer is configured to optionallyreceive signal from the first equalizer or signal from a first auxiliaryinput for output to the first speaker, or combine the received signalsto output the combined signal to the first speaker; a Bluetooth moduleconfigured to receive signals from another Bluetooth enabled device orto transmit signals to the another Bluetooth enabled device; and asecond mixer coupled in series between the first variable gain amplifierand the first equalizer, wherein the Bluetooth module is coupled to thesecond mixer to transmit audio signals received from the anotherBluetooth enabled device to the second mixer.
 7. The equalized hearingaid system of claim 6 wherein the Bluetooth module is coupled to thefirst equalizer and is configured to transmit control signals receivedfrom the another Bluetooth enabled device to the first equalizer forcontrolling the first equalizer.
 8. An equalized hearing aid systemcomprising: a microphone, a first variable gain amplifier, a firstequalizer, a first mixer, and a first speaker coupled in series forminga first signal path, wherein the first mixer is configured to optionallyreceive signal from the first equalizer or signal from a first auxiliaryinput for output to the first speaker, or combine the received signalsto output the combined signal to the first speaker; the microphone, asecond variable gain amplifier, a second equalizer, a second mixer, anda second speaker coupled in series forming a second signal path; whereinthe second mixer is configured to optionally receive signal from thesecond equalizer or signal from a second auxiliary input for output tothe second speaker, or combine the received signals to output thecombined signal to the second speaker.
 9. The equalized hearing aidsystem of claim 8 further comprising a control interface coupled to thesecond equalizer for controlling the second equalizer.
 10. The equalizedhearing aid system of claim 8 further comprising a Bluetooth module, theBluetooth module configured to transmit control signals received fromanother Bluetooth enabled device to at least one of the first equalizerfor controlling the first equalizer and the second equalizer forcontrolling the second equalizer.
 11. The equalized hearing aid systemof claim 10 further comprising a third mixer coupled between the firstequalizer and the first mixer, a fourth mixer coupled between the secondequalizer and the second mixer, wherein an output of the Bluetoothmodule is coupled to the third mixer and to the fourth mixer.
 12. Theequalized hearing aid system of claim 11 further comprising a thirdequalizer coupled to input signal into the first signal path and afourth equalizer coupled to input signal into the second signal path.13. The equalized hearing aid system of claim 12, wherein the Bluetoothmodule is coupled to the first equalizer, to the second equalizer, tothe third equalizer, and to the fourth equalizer, and the Bluetoothmodule is configured to transmit control signals received from theanother Bluetooth enabled device to at least one of the first equalizer,the second equalizer, the third equalizer, and the fourth equalizer. 14.The equalized hearing aid system of claim 13, wherein an output of thefirst equalizer and an output of the third equalizer are coupled to thethird mixer, and an output of the second equalizer and an output of thefourth equalizer are coupled to the fourth mixer.